Latest news with #Provos
Sunday World
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
UVF following in the footsteps of Provisional IRA by scaling down to ‘skeletal' size
'For the past few weeks, whispers have emerged that the UVF and other loyalist paramilitaries were going to make a big announcement at some point in the autumn.' By reducing its ranks to a 'skeletal' size, the UVF is following in the footsteps of the Provisional IRA, a senior loyalist source has said. He was speaking after historian Dr Aaron Edwards revealed earlier this month that the UVF leadership is close to brokering a deal with the British government which would see the loyalist terror group issue a 'General Order of Disbandment'. Author of the book UVF: Behind the Mask and viewed as an expert on loyalism, Newtownabbey-born Dr Edwards claims the UVF leadership want to retain an elite of military members who will act as protectors of the organisation, as it continues its journey to a peaceful society in Northern Ireland. A senior lecturer at Sandhurst Military College, Dr Edwards said retained UVF members could be styled a 'veterans association', but in reality it will be more like a 'close protection team' for senior members. And he was backed last night by a senior loyalist source who insisted the UVF was working from a blueprint devised by the Provisional IRA. Former UVF leader Gusty Spence along with William Smyth, Gary McMichael, David Irvine and David Adams. News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 'If you don't believe the Provos still exist then cast your mind back ten years to the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan, who was shot dead outside his home in the Short Strand. Everyone now knows he was killed by the Provos,' he said. He added: 'It's at times like this that paramilitary leaders are most vulnerable from a range of enemies – both outside and from within. The retention of military capability and personnel is simply an insurance policy.' Eight years ago the Sunday World revealed that representatives of all paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland were asked to meet with senior security personnel at a venue off Belfast's Springfield Road. They were briefed about government policy on criminality linked to loyalist and republican organisations. Aaron Edwards. And they were warned the authorities were well aware of the identity of those involved in illegal activity and it would be only a matter of time before the PSNI moved against them. Dr Edwards said he saw Friday's developments as a continuation of that policy. Speaking to the Sunday World from his office at Sandhurst, he said: 'We shouldn't forget that meeting in west Belfast, because that's where all this began. Ordinary people want to live in a normal society. 'For the past few weeks, whispers have emerged that the UVF and other loyalist paramilitaries were going to make a big announcement at some point in the autumn. 'But at that time I didn't believe any move would be made towards disbandment. For me, it would have seemed very unusual, given how deeply these organisations had become bedded in local communities. 'However, a movement has emerged from the bottom of the paramilitary groups and in particular the UVF in certain areas, where people are saying they've had enough of criminality and there is no reason for loyalist paramilitary groups to exist any longer. 'And there is clearly an ongoing process from the top down to negotiate with the UVF leadership. It is my understanding this has been ongoing since 2017. 'So this week, we've seen the skeletal details of this emerging about what that might look like. It's clear the terminology is very militaristic. And that would suggest to me that these things that are being talked about are accurate. 'However, given that the UVF is a top-down organisation, the foot soldiers are always the last to know, so it will be interesting to see how this works its way down through the ranks and across different areas.' Dr Edwards said. He added: 'It's my understanding that this direction of travel has been set for some time. And it may bring us forward to a different phase, but whether it brings about complete disbandment of the UVF, remains to be seen.' Formed in November 1965, the modern-day UVF brought the gun back into Northern Ireland politics with the shooting of three Catholic barmen the following June. The group had been enjoying an after-hours pint in the Malvern Arms pub in the Shankill area of Belfast. And as the were leaving they were caught in a hail of gunfire as soon as they stepped out onto the street around 2.15am. UVF leader, Gusty Spence – a former member of the Royal Ulster Rifles – was jailed for life along with other members of the organisation, which was immediately proscribed by the then Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Captain Terence O'Neill. During its 30-year campaign, the UVF went on to kill more than 500 people during the Troubles, carrying out many massacres of innocent Catholics, including those mutilated by the Shankill Butchers.
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
RTÉ's ‘Noraid: Irish America and the IRA' leans towards the Che Guevara version of history
The makers of Noraid: Irish America and the IRA , RTÉ 's flashy new two-part documentary about the Provisionals' support base in North America, say they want to 'tell a story that is misunderstood or not known at all'. But of course, anyone who was alive during the Troubles will remember only too well how elements within Irish America helped fund the IRA's campaign and, in so doing, contributed to the bombings of civilians, the kneecappings, the murder of Gardaí and the sectarian campaign against Protestant farmers along the border. How shocking to think this part of history might be in danger of slipping between the cracks of popular recollection. The film (RTÉ One. 9.35pm) doesn't quite paint Noraid – a contraction of 'Irish Northern Aid Committee' – as misunderstood heroes. However, it might have gone further in making explicit what they were supporting. That is, the slaughter of pensioners on Remembrance Sunday, the kidnapping and murder of businessmen, industrial-scale bank robbery. That isn't to absolve the British state of its sins in the North , its backing of loyalist death squads or the stain of colonialism, as dark as not-quite-dried blood. But the documentary does not convey, or even really acknowledge, the horror the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland felt at the time towards the Provos. And that is relevant to the story, as it also explains the widespread revulsion towards Noraid. If anything, the first of two episodes leans ever so subtly towards the Che Guevara version of history – never mind the body count; look at the cool poster we got out of it. READ MORE Hipster touches abound as the producers play up the New York element of the story. The Beastie Boys feature on the soundtrack, and the title cards are modelled on old cop shows. These are flourishes that do not always sit well with the grim subject matter. Still, there are flashes of humour, too – such as when activists recall arranging for senior members of the republican movement in Belfast to be interviewed by one of America's most widely-read journals, Playboy. Meanwhile, taxi driver John McDonagh remembers booking an ad in Times Square supporting the IRA – it finished with the initials 'UTP'. This spelt 'Up the Provos', though the company that took the booking thought it meant 'Up the Pope'. 'They never asked me what type of charity,' McDonagh says. 'I said I wanted to send season's greetings to the Irish people. They never asked what type of Irish people. I didn't offer what type.' If the film doesn't take a strong enough stand on the Provos, it does give a voice to senior Noraid figures and allows them to communicate their views uncritically. It introduces Martin Galvin, a lawyer and leading figure in Noraid. He was banned from entering Northern Ireland but went anyway in 1984. In the riot that followed his appearance at a rally in West Belfast, British security forces shot dead a protester with a rubber bullet. Galvin obviously wasn't to blame for the bloody excesses of the British security establishment. However, the violence would not have broken out had he not been there. 'We support Irish freedom ... the only way the British are going to leave Ireland is for the fight to be successful,' Galvin says – seemingly cleaving to the old republican shibboleth as seeing the British as an entirely external force and ignoring the inconvenient presence of a million unionists. Still, it is revealing to learn that Galvin and other Noraid members are far removed from the misty-eyed Irish-American stereotype. Noraid was largely based in New York, and its members have the hard-bitten qualities of characters from a Scorsese movie. That said, modern Sinn Féin's hipster-Marxist axis won't be thrilled to learn that Noraid expunged any hint of socialism from imported copies of An Phoblacht because that sort of thing would not have gone down well with Irish Americans. Nor do the producers address the uncomfortable fact that Irish America – so keen on the physical force of republicanism – would go on to become a power base for Donald Trump and, thus of 21st century Neo-Fascist. Interviewed today, Galvin is unapologetic and still retains some of the firebrand qualities that are a feature of his archive appearances. The documentary is also careful to point out that while Noraid organised fundraisers for Sinn Féin, it never supplied arms to the Provos. The task of smuggling guns across the Atlantic fell to organised criminals. That story will be told in part two and will touch on the role of Whitey Bulger (as later played on screen by Johnny Depp). But part one provides a fascinating portrait of a crucial element of the struggles – of true believers from across the sea who seemed to fancy themselves more Irish than those in the 26 counties who didn't much care about the Constitutional status of the North, only that people stopped dying. 'What I've found is the diaspora make a serious attempt to understand the Irish culture, whereas a lot of people that are actually from the island of Ireland have never made an attempt to understand the diaspora culture,' says Chris Byrne, a former New York cop and republican sympathiser. It is a reminder few are as committed to the spilling of blood in Ireland as those who never set foot here.
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
NORAID: Irish America and the IRA review: Few are as committed to the spilling of blood in Ireland as those who never set foot here
The makers of NORAID: Irish America and the IRA , RTÉ 's flashy new two-part documentary about the Provisionals' support base in North America, say they want to 'tell a story that is misunderstood or not known at all'. But of course, anyone who was alive during the Troubles will remember only too well how elements within Irish America helped fund the IRA's campaign and, in so doing, contributed to the bombings of civilians, the kneecappings, the murder of Gardaí and the sectarian campaign against Protestant farmers along the border. How shocking to think this part of history might be in danger of slipping between the cracks of popular recollection. The film (RTÉ One. 9.35pm) doesn't quite paint Noraid – a contraction of 'Irish Northern Aid Committee' – as misunderstood heroes. However, it might have gone further in making explicit what they were supporting. That is, the slaughter of pensioners on Remembrance Sunday, the kidnapping and murder of businessmen, industrial-scale bank robbery. That isn't to absolve the British state of its sins in the North , its backing of loyalist death squads or the stain of colonialism, as dark as not-quite-dried blood. But the documentary does not convey, or even really acknowledge, the horror the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland felt at the time towards the Provos. And that is relevant to the story, as it also explains the widespread revulsion towards Noraid. If anything, the first of two episodes leans ever so subtly towards the Che Guevara version of history – never mind the body count; look at the cool poster we got out of it. READ MORE Hipster touches abound as the producers play up the New York element of the story. The Beastie Boys feature on the soundtrack, and the title cards are modelled on old cop shows. These are flourishes that do not always sit well with the grim subject matter. Still, there are flashes of humour, too – such as when activists recall arranging for senior members of the republican movement in Belfast to be interviewed by one of America's most widely-read journals, Playboy. Meanwhile, taxi driver John McDonagh remembers booking an ad in Times Square supporting the IRA – it finished with the initials 'UTP'. This spelt 'Up the Provos', though the company that took the booking thought it meant 'Up the Pope'. 'They never asked me what type of charity,' McDonagh says. 'I said I wanted to send season's greetings to the Irish people. They never asked what type of Irish people. I didn't offer what type.' If the film doesn't take a strong enough stand on the Provos, it does give a voice to senior Noraid figures and allows them to communicate their views uncritically. It introduces Martin Galvin, a lawyer and leading figure in Noraid. He was banned from entering Northern Ireland but went anyway in 1984. In the riot that followed his appearance at a rally in West Belfast, British security forces shot dead a protester with a rubber bullet. Galvin obviously wasn't to blame for the bloody excesses of the British security establishment. However, the violence would not have broken out had he not been there. 'We support Irish freedom ... the only way the British are going to leave Ireland is for the fight to be successful,' Galvin says – seemingly cleaving to the old republican shibboleth as seeing the British as an entirely external force and ignoring the inconvenient presence of a million unionists. Still, it is revealing to learn that Galvin and other Noraid members are far removed from the misty-eyed Irish-American stereotype. Noraid was largely based in New York, and its members have the hard-bitten qualities of characters from a Scorsese movie. That said, modern Sinn Féin's hipster-Marxist axis won't be thrilled to learn that Noraid expunged any hint of socialism from imported copies of An Phoblacht because that sort of thing would not have gone down well with Irish Americans. Nor do the producers address the uncomfortable fact that Irish America – so keen on the physical force of republicanism – would go on to become a power base for Donald Trump and, thus of 21st century Neo-Fascist. Interviewed today, Galvin is unapologetic and still retains some of the firebrand qualities that are a feature of his archive appearances. The documentary is also careful to point out that while Noraid organised fundraisers for Sinn Féin, it never supplied arms to the Provos. The task of smuggling guns across the Atlantic fell to organised criminals. That story will be told in part two and will touch on the role of Whitey Bulger (as later played on screen by Johnny Depp). But part one provides a fascinating portrait of a crucial element of the struggles – of true believers from across the sea who seemed to fancy themselves more Irish than those in the 26 counties who didn't much care about the Constitutional status of the North, only that people stopped dying. 'What I've found is the diaspora make a serious attempt to understand the Irish culture, whereas a lot of people that are actually from the island of Ireland have never made an attempt to understand the diaspora culture,' says Chris Byrne, a former New York cop and republican sympathiser. It is a reminder few are as committed to the spilling of blood in Ireland as those who never set foot here.
Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Michael McDowell is wrong about RTÉ being infiltrated by ‘Stalinists' at the height of the IRA's war against the Irish people
In doing so he distorted the historical record and recycled the hairy old conspiracy theory that RTÉ had been 'infiltrated' by The Workers Party activists who held the station's current affairs coverage in a 'vice-like grip'. I was one of the 'Stalinists' senator McDowell was getting at in his interview with Dónal Lynch. For the record, I wasn't 'infiltrated' into RTÉ in 1978 but was offered the post of producer/director after a rigorous open public competition. I joined the current affairs programme Today Tonight in 1980 and was part of a large editorial team who robustly debated how to cover the biggest story of the day: the Provisional republican movement's attempt to take power in Ireland, North and south, through 'the ballot box and the Armalite'. Like the majority of my producer and researcher colleagues in RTÉ at the time I supported the ban on Provo and loyalist frontmen appearing on air to justify their terror campaigns. In backing Section 31, I and others like me in RTÉ, believed we were acting in defence of Irish democracy against an evil sectarian insurgency that sought to plunge the island of Ireland into a full scale ethnic civil war. In Dáil Éireann Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats all embraced this point of view. Workers Party TDs took the opposite view and voted in support of the arguments advanced by purist advocates of free speech and most RTÉ journalists. Their contention was that the apologists for murder would be held to account by tough forensic journalism. That never happened. In 1994 the ban on Sinn Féin appearing on RTÉ was lifted. At that time the Provos had no TDs sitting in Dáil Éireann. Thirty years later, despite being unrepentant about the war crimes of its military wing, Sinn Féin has 39 TDs, one more than Fine Gael. Like senator McDowell I regard the Provisional IRA campaign that Sinn Féin justifies as an 'abomination'. That murderous Provisional 'abomination' was at its most lethal in the 1970s and 80s. I am proud to state that I was one of many RTÉ programme makers who saw the slaughter perpetrated on behalf of 'Irish freedom' by Provo 'volunteers' for what it was, and called it out when it was most needed. Gerry Gregg, Blackrock, Co Dublin Our politicians must act on Gaza genocide Madam — In years to come, a global generation of young people will confront their parents with two simple questions. What did you do to oppose the catastrophic genocide of innocent civilians in Gaza and what did you do to resist the deliberately induced famine? The very least we should be able to answer is that we demanded of our TDs an immediate implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill. A piece of legislation which in and of itself is a totally inadequate response to the incremental displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and yet consecutive Irish governments have found multiple excuses to not apply even this deficient response. If we do not mobilise as a national collective to demand our representatives act on Israeli genocide, we, too, will have to bear the guilt of the morally outraged, yet at the same time otherwise engaged citizen. Kevin McCarthy, Killaloe, Co Clare Put Israel's horrible crimes on front page Madam — I read the article last week, 'Doctor sees nine of her 10 children killed in new IDF atrocity', and wondered why it wasn't on the front page. These awful atrocities by Israel continue and our national news is more interested in what new disrespectful, bully-boy tactics have been dreamed up by Trump, giving him priority. What has happened in the world where poor children can just be killed by a powerful and rich nation, cheered on by the USA (a country I used to respect), while the rest of the world seems afraid to show our total disgust. The bad will continue to wreak havoc uncontested if the good remain silent. I am proud that Ireland is vocal in its condemnation of Israel, but the media needs to give it more priority. Less prominent pages of newspapers can be reserved for Trump news. Siobhán Buckley, Mallow, Co Cork Have we forgotten Hamas started this? Madam — Letter writers last week wrote about the suffering of children in Gaza and accused Israel of genocide. No mention that the current war began when Hamas perpetrated the highest number of murders of Jews in one day since the Holocaust. If the Israeli military campaign in Gaza was genocide then the Allied campaign against Nazi Germany would have been genocide, too. Ciarán Masterson, Cathedral Road, Cavan Stunning lack of empathy by Boyne Madam — John Boyne writes that he came out as gay to unequivocal family support. Many of us were not so lucky. He also says he was too afraid to attend Pride as a teenager. Many of us attend Pride, and campaign for our community, in spite of or even because of that fear. If all he can do at a time of rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate across the world is sit on the sidelines and throw barbs at a community he has never needed or aided, that might go some way to explain why our community doesn't need or heed him now. Jess Connor, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Madam — In his recent article, John Boyne argued for the repeal of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2015, referring to it as 'problematic at best, and deeply misogynistic at worst'. Yet he offers no explanation as to what these problems might be. The issue of gender recognition has been thoroughly examined by the Irish courts and the Dáil since Dr Lydia Foy's case began in 1997. To scrap this legislation would make Irish law incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Mr Boyne mentions 'fear of being attacked' as a teenager. Yet repealing the GRA (the mechanism by which trans people can update documents to match their gender, presentation and appearance) would force trans people to out themselves constantly. We face the same hatred, from the same people, but Mr Boyne refuses to empathise with us. He would prefer to split our community based on our differences, rather than unite under our shared struggle. Ciara Witts, Birr, Co Offaly Madam — John Boyne's column reads like a lengthy exercise in privilege, positioning himself as a spokesperson for a 'respectable' gay minority. His account of coming out to unequivocal family support, a string of relationships, and public success is not just his personal experience — it's a profoundly atypical one. His suggestion that Pride is no longer necessary because his life is comfortable reveals a breathtaking detachment from the daily realities still faced by many LGBTQ+ people. Pride was not built for those who never needed it. Boyne's attempt to distance himself from LGBTQ+ culture does not make him brave or insightful. It makes him condescending. To imply that queer students are just 'ruthlessly straight middle-class' dilettantes, or that trans women pose a threat to women's rights, is scapegoating — fear dressed as reason. He praises the Cass Review as if it were universally respected, failing to acknowledge the flaws that have prompted criticism from within the medical and academic communities. What Boyne dismisses as hollow allyship — being told he is 'loved, seen and heard' — is, in fact, empathy. His rejection of it says more about his own discomfort than the intentions of allies. Empathy, not elitism, is what underpins meaningful progress. Caz Koopman, Cobh, Co Cork Brave and balanced column from Boyne Madam — I wish to compliment John Boyne on his brave, balanced, honest and insightful article about being gay. He sums it up very well when he says, 'it is just the way I was born'. I agree. Dr Pat Mc Grath, Monkstown, Co Dublin Madam — It is wonderful to read John Boyne's clear and refreshing refutation of our modern 'Pride' celebration and the LGBTQ+ label. At a time when Pride flags are draped year round outside secondary schools and youth centres, we have to wonder what confusing ideology is being promoted to our youth in the guise of compassion and inclusion. The pendulum has swung too far and clear thinking and maturity is needed from the leaders of our community. Boyne is clearly showing leadership here and I hope our educators listen. Alan Coakey, Roscommon town Vance will continue Trump's vile legacy Madam — As someone who has visited the United States many times, it saddens me that I will probably never go there again. Trump's recent intention to have the social media accounts of visa applicants looked at is not only creepy, but scary. To me it is the last straw. This is going to cause widespread damage to the plans of students in Ireland who go to America every summer to work on a J1 visa. And after he is gone, his legacy will still linger as the much younger and even more right-wing JD Vance, the vice president who has publicly let it be known that he dislikes foreigners immensely, especially Europeans, will carry on Trump's catastrophic policy of ripping America's reputation to bits. Mike Burke, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare Well done Nikki, you are a brave woman Madam — I want to congratulate Nikki Hayes for being so candid with Niamh Horan in last week's Sunday Independent. I was stuck by the veracity of Nikki's story and I want to take this opportunity to wish this brave woman every good wish for the future. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Liberal feminists are opposed to surrogacy Madam — As an Irish pro-choice, pro-gay marriage feminist, I was delighted to read in the Sunday Independent that the commencement of the Government's recently enacted surrogacy legislation has been paused and that a reconsideration is taking place. It is simply not the case that only conservative people oppose this legislation. There are very many liberal feminists in Ireland who oppose surrogacy because they want and work towards the best possible life for women and girls and this does not include having babies for anyone other than themselves. Anne Weadick, Galway city Kane interview a pure masterpiece Madam — How timely was Niall MacMonagle's interview with artist Michael Kane. Niall interviewed the artist before the opening of his exhibition in the Taylor Galleries. Michael died the day after. This particular interview captured the essence of the artist and this particular column is to be treasured because it captures the essence of the man. Niall is a superb interpreter of the art world and we could do with more words and more space from this columnist. Phyl Herbert, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Michelin Man needs to go outside Dublin Madam — Your restaurant critic's review is my 'go-to' page in Life magazine. It is always enjoyable. Last week, Lucinda asked: 'Could this be the first 3-star?' This being Chapter One restaurant in Dublin and the 3-star being the elusive Michelin award. She supports her suggestion by telling us that, at the recent RAI awards, Chapter One, a Michelin 2-star restaurant, took the gong for the best restaurant in Dublin. I have no doubt that this is truly deserved. However, at the very same awards ceremony, Dede in Baltimore, also a Michelin 2-star restaurant, not only took the gong for the best restaurant in Ireland, but, as it happened, retained the gong won in 2024 for the best restaurant in Ireland. I would respectfully suggest that the Michelin Man should be more inclined, if and when they give the 3 stars, to look at the best in Ireland, rather than the best in Dublin — even if it is in West Cork, rather than in the capital. Michael Kenefick, Whitegate, Co Cork Why didn't Harris take housing job? Madam — Gabija Gataveckaite and Mary Regan's timely piece recently highlighted growing coalition unease over James Browne's performance as Housing Minister. It's hard not to ask: why didn't Simon Harris, as FG leader, take the role himself? With housing in crisis, it would have been a clear signal of leadership. Instead, he chose Foreign Affairs and Defence. As Shane Ross noted recently, Ireland is acting like 'a small country with a swollen head'. With record homelessness and housing starts at a four-year low, Harris's decision speaks volumes. When the house is on fire, he is out installing satellite dishes. A housing tsar might yet be appointed, but we needed a political heavyweight months ago. Dylan Redmond, Leixlip, Co Kildare Biden's record will stand test of time Madam — In response to a letter writer who pined for a more charismatic and youthful president of the United States, I wrote a letter to your newspaper with 'Boring Joe Biden is doing just fine. He doesn't have to leave his basement to get votes and instead concentrates on policy and enacting legislation'. Your predecessor edited those words to 'Boring old Joe Biden' and gave me €50. Reading Shane Ross's article last week, 'Politics is a vocation where vanity captures its victims — I should know', I'm reminded of that ageist sentence. Joe Biden was boring but by any standard he was one of the most successful bipartisan legislators of the past 50 years in US politics. What he was not good for though was selling newspapers or advertisements on cable TV. And therein lies the problem in the English-speaking western media. The 46th US president may still have lost to Donald Trump had he resisted the pile-on from the media and others to step down, but his record in government will stand the test of time. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Again, please give us a capital M for mass Madam — If mass is the scientific term for the quantity of matter in a given object, and Mass is the ceremony that celebrates the sacrament of the eucharist, might it be a good idea to differentiate the two by using lowercase and uppercase? Mary Lally, Clontarf, Dublin 3 'Uncharted' crew the real heroes Madam — Having watched Uncharted on RTÉ, may I compliment the real heroes, the camera crew and the back-up team who took serious risks to get the daring footage. Well done also to Ray Goggins and the other amazing participants on their bravery. PJ Callanan, Craughwell, Co Galway
